Otel Lobby - Annex Building; Bakrie Tower, Kuningan

9/25/2013
Soya Yanagawa
3 Comments

You might already know about gastropub (Restaurant & Bar) named Otel Lobby at Annex Building Bakrie Tower, Epicentrum, Kuningan - Jakarta. Well, for those who haven’t know about Otel Lobby, it was a warm and friendly rustique vintage gastro pub that will indulge you with their beautiful environment, wonderfully made food and distinctly different beverages. Their name was taken from the "hotel lobby", so they do have a hotel-like receptionist!

Completed with a bar and lounge area, Otel Lobby really make you feel that you are not in ordinary gastro pub. You will feel the soul calming atmosphere at noon and vibrant atmosphere at night.

Last Saturday, I went to Otel Lobby with my food blogger friends at noon. Luckily i have met with Otel Lobby's Head Chef & Co-Owner, Maya Aldy, she is a very beautiful, hospitable and multi talented person. Too bad she had another business, so she cannot join us and have a long chat.

But, I really grateful that i can meet with Otel Lobby's Public Relations, Irwinta Septiani (Winta). She accompanied us and tells us everything about Otel lobby. Despite her young age, her professionalism and comprehension about Otel Lobby, should be given two thumbs up. Her eloquent speech and supple, makes our dining experience become merrier.

Black is a dominant color for their décor. Masculinity really felt when we first came into this place. But Otel Lobby balanced it by using a variety of trinkets. First thing that pops into my head when i saw their interior design, Otel Lobby is really care about their details.

Their detail oriented successfully made Otel Lobby is different from the other gastropub. With their artistic decoration and beautiful environment, really make me want to stay there and pampering myself as long as i can. My 2 favorite corners are right beside their beautiful grunge mirrors and sofas with vintage box-tables near the windows.

Otel Lobby serve a very unique and diverse food and beverages. Indeed, their beverage menus have a longer list than their food menu. But considering their 2 pages of food menu, the food were actually quite complete form the appetizer trough desserts.

For your information, Otel Lobby emphasis on the quality and freshness their ingredients. They used a locavore concept, which means all the ingredients is locally produced. That means, Otel Lobby was interested in sustainability and eco-consciousness. One of the highlights, each menu can be customized with costumer's request who have dietary restrictions such as low salt, sugar or fat as needed.

Winta said, all the ingredients are homemade. From the pasta through the ice cream was freshly made from their kitchen. Well, before any further, let's take a look for their dishes.

Pigs in the Blanket

Tender beef hotdog with warm pastry

IDR 45,000

Let us start with Pigs in the Blanket. Stay calm, it is just a name. They don't use pork on this dish.

Pigs in the blanked are typically small in size and can be eaten in one or two bites. For this reason, they are usually served as an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre. The pigs in the blanket from Otel Lobby is neatly presented with a wooden container and completed with the mustard sauce.

The pastry is really crunchy while the sausage is tender and juicy, so you will find the textures are rich and deliciously taste.

Enchilada

red enchilada sauce, coriander, sour cream, cheese.

IDR 85,000

Enchilada is a corn tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with a chili pepper sauce.

Enchilada from Otel Lobby is soaked with their red enchilada sauce. The sauce wasn't hot or spicy, but it completes the flavor. Their fresh ingredients, rich texture, refreshing taste and their wonderful fragrant make enchilada from Otel Lobby is easily become one of my friends favorite dish.

Shrimp Malfatti

pesto and parmigiano

Regular IDR 75,000 / Large IDR 105,000

Malfatti is a type of hand-rolled dumpling or gnocchi. Their hand-made unshapely (unevenly cut) pasta dish was mixed with shrimp and pesto sauce. Last, the dish was topped with parmigiano-reggiano (parmesan cheese).

For the presentation, it might not have the most beautiful look. But when you eat it, the taste is really delicious. The savory from cheese, freshness from basil and sweetness from shrimps, collaborate and make a wonderful symphony on your mouth.

Smoked Salmon Fettuccine

Creamy white wine sauce, dill oil.

Regular IDR 75,000 / Large IDR 105,000

Have I told you before? my favorite shape of pasta is fettuccine, my favorite sauce is carbonara, and my favorite protein is salmon. Otel Lobby combines all of them into one dish called Smoked Salmon Fettuccine.

I was indulged with this dish! I really love the smoothness of creamy white wine sauce, the wonderful fragrant of dill oil (coriander oil), and the smokey taste salmon. The pasta have the perfect thickness and it was perfectly cooked. The white wine sauce and the dill oil, makes the smoky taste from the smoked salmon is not very strong.

Slow Cooked Salmon

confit potato, hollandaise sauce

IDR 115,000

This piece of art and wonderfully presented was named slow cooked salmon. The salmon was baked in low temperature with pan and water. It was indeed took 25-30 minutes to be served. But to tell you the truth, it is worth to wait. The confit potato was very crunchy, and their hollandaise sauce was superb!

Fun Facts: Hollandaise is one of the five sauces in the French haute cuisine mother sauce repertoire. It is so named because it was believed to have mimicked a Dutch sauce for the King of the Netherlands' state visit to France.

The hollandaise sauce is an emulsion of egg yolk and liquid butter, usually seasoned with lemon juice, salt, and a little white pepper or cayenne pepper. Hollandaise sauce is well known as a key ingredient of Eggs Benedict, and is often paired with steamed vegetables. But Otel Lobby use this hollandaise sauce for their salmon dish and it really works.

Stone Baked Pizza

Smoked Salmon, Dill, Cucumber, Cream Cheese.

IDR 85,000

Tomato based pizza topped with smoked salmon, cucumber, dill, cream cheese and rocket leaves. You might noticed, that this pizza didn't have the melting cheese. Well, this pizza doesn't need any cheese other than cream cheese. The taste is really sensational! the smoked salmon and the burnt fragrant make this dish so special. The vegetables poured after the pizza came out from the oven, that is why the vegetables taste crunchy and fresh. Overall, I really love the dish, it was unique and tasty. But i think the crust can be made less tough.

Mint Lime Crush

the responsible mojito for the designated driver or kids

IDR 45,000

This Mint Lime Crush is also known as virgin mojito. It was called as a virgin mojito and the responsible mojito for designated driver or kids, because this beverage did not contain any alcohol. This bitter-sour-sweet drink has a strong mint leaves taste. For those who loves the unique taste of mint that collaborate with the refreshing lime, this drink might suitable you.

Zing Berry

spicy fresh bell pepper and plump strawberries with a citrus kick

IDR 45,000

Another refreshing beverage that i have taste at Otel Lobby is Zing Berry. Actually, the beautiful red color almost fools me. I thought it will be sweet and taste strawberry juice-like, but actually the red symbolize the "sexyness and hotness.

The bell pepper taste is really dominant. It is so unique and refreshing. For those who is bored with the usual strawberry juice, Otel lobby made a twist by adding the bell pepper and citrus in it.

OTL Banana Split

fried banana, 3 scoops of ice cream, homemade chocolate sauce

IDR 45,000

I love Banana Split! When this dish was served, I do really want to eat it all. What makes Otel Lobby's banana split is different from the other? They deep-fried the banana!

The deep-fried banana crumbs makes the textures become richer, combination between hot and cold is also makes the dish is something that cannot easily refuse. Completed with three scoop of homemade ice cream (Chocolate | Strawberry | Vanilla), homemade chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream and cherry, really makes your mouth drooling even just to look at.

Last but not least, I finally taste their cronuts. Otel Lobby's Cronuts have 3 different kinds of flavor; Crunchy Chocolate, Vanilla lemon, and Coffee Caramel. Winta said that their cronuts needs to be left prior the ferment, so if you want to try their cronuts, you have to order it minimum 1 day before.

What is cronut?

Cronut is a croissant-doughnut pastry developed by chef Dominique Ansel for Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City. The donut have beautiful layers just like croissant, but shaped just like donut, complete with the hole in the center.

Winta added that the most recommended time to eat the cronuts is less than 30 minutes. Because, the crunchy textures will be faded and not as delicious as the freshly made from the kitchen.

Crunchy Chocolate Cronut

The crunchy layered cronuts was topped with Otel Lobby's homemade chocolate sauce and sprinkled with nuts. It will make you craving for more.

Vanilla Lemon Cronuts

For this cronuts, Otel lobby inject the cronuts with vanilla lemon sauce. I really love the sweetness of vanilla combined with the refreshing lemon. It is really a great combination.

Coffee Caramel Cronuts

For the Coffee Caramel Cronuts, Otel lobby injects the coffee sauce inside and topped the cronuts with the caramel. I thought it will be super duper sweet, but the caramel is more salty-sweet, and the coffee is strongly tasted.

I am really grateful to have this kind of experience, where i can seat with my besties and accompanied with Winta. For you who want to try their Cronuts, you can contact: